Labor Day events planned

August 28, 2008

ESCANABA - Area communities are getting ready for a full slate of events and celebrations during Labor Day weekend. They include:

ROCK

The annual Labor Day celebration in Rock will kick off Saturday with the Labor Day parade, starting at 10 a.m.

Article Photos

A one room school house exhibit has been added to the annual Steam and Gas Engine Show in the Antique Village at the U.P. State Fairgrounds. The show will open Friday with a preview of events. The show runs through Monday. (Daily Press photo by Dionna Harris)

Serving as grand marshall for the parade is George Mattila, who is the oldest living resident in Rock.

Immediately following the parade at the Rock Lions Club, there will be live music. Abracadabra Arcades will also be featured, along with horseshoe and paintball tournaments.

According to organizer Kathy Wojda, there will be carnival-style games for people of all ages to enjoy, and new this year will be "chicken bingo" along with "cow bingo."

"Chicken bingo, which is new this year, is much the same as cow bingo, except that a chicken will be released every hour to walk around a numbered grid. People can purchase numbers (grids) for the game, and the grid or number that the chicken defecates on will win. The same principle applies to the cow bingo game," said Wojda.

There will be food on the grounds, and the Rock Senior Center will also be selling pasties, she added.

ESCANABA

In Escanaba, the annual Steam and Gas Engine Show will open Friday for preview night in the Antique Village at the U.P. State Fair Grounds.

"Friday is preview night. Admission is $1 per person," said Steam and Gas Engine Association member Skip DuFour.

Activities at the Steam and Gas Engine Show include the operation of the sawmill, along with the camp store, flea market, cookshop and craftshops.

"There will also be a gun show and the traditional antique tractor show, with Ford, Fordson and Ferguson tractors and equipment being featured," he said.

New for the 2008 Steam and Gas Engine Show, is the conversion of the former 4-H kitchen into a one-room school house.

"We took over the former 4-H kitchen and decided to convert it into a school, complete with traditional antique desks and equipment," said DuFour.

The Steam and Gas Engine Show will run Saturday through Monday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Admission Saturday through Monday is $5 per person.

MANISTIQUE

Manistique residents will have the opportunity to enjoy the Manistique Merchants Car Show, beginning Friday with the traditional car cruise. Line-up for the cruise will begin at 6:30 p.m. Friday at Lakeside Shell.

"Friday also marks the first home football game for the Manistique Emeralds," said organizer David Vaughn.

Saturday is the car show, he added, on South Cedar Street. "The street will be blocked off for the car show. Registration will begin at 8 a.m., and the show will officially run from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m."

In addition to the car show, there will also be a snowmobile show, with trophies being awarded in several different categories.

"Abracadabra Arcades will be here, there will be kids tractor pulls, and something new this year, the Schoolcraft County Child Passenger Safety Squad will be present to offer free inspections of child car seats," said Vaughn.

NAHMA

A Labor day celebration is also planned in Nahma Sunday. The Nahma Labor Day Parade is Sunday, beginning at 11 a.m. Festivities will follow in Nahma.

CORNELL

Cornell's Labor Day bridge walk is scheduled for Monday. The walk begins at 11 a.m. with a pot luck lunch to be served after the walk. Anyone interested in the pot luck is asked to bring a dish to pass, table settings and a drink.

The public is welcome to attend. For more information, call 384-0103.

CURTIS

Michigan artists and crafters will gather for a one-day art and music festival on the shores of South Manistique Lake in Curtis on Saturday. Along with a wide variety of arts and crafts, the festival will include live entertainment, an extensive food selection, a "Welcome Sign" silent auction, activities tent for the kids, and a parade with puppets for children.

Live entertainment will include Michelle Chenard, playing a blend of rock, country and pop; The Flying Latini Brothers, featuring their original music and folk classics; and rock group Nine Mile Smile.

The festival begins at 10 a.m. with exhibits closing at 6 p.m. and entertainment until 7 p.m.